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Re: cycloid



Jaya asked:

How to show that the cycloid is the curve of quickest
descent and that the time it takes for an object to move
along its path is same irrespective of the starting and
ending point.

This is covered in most intermediate texts on mechanics or math physics and
is called the brachistochrone problem. For example, see Goldstein
"Classical Mechanics" page 42. Or see Boas "Mathematical Methods in the
Physical Sciences" Sec. 4 of Chap. 9, along with Prob. 3 on page 467 for
the second part of your question.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Carl Mungan, Assistant Professor http://www.uwf.edu/~cmungan/
Dept. of Physics, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514-5751
office: 850-474-2645 (secretary -2267, FAX -3161) email: cmungan@uwf.edu